December 2013 Almanac

December 2013 Almanac

KEEPING PACE WITH OFFICE IT
Choosing and implementing the right technology toolkit for your practice
By Christine Umbrell
T
hese days, O&P business owners are facing decreasing profit margins and increasing documentation requirements caused by recoupment challenges and multiple audits. Investing the resources to research and implement a new information technology (IT) system—or even upgrade parts of an existing system—can seem daunting. But those facilities that stay current in the IT arena are taking a long-term view of their business strategy, and are preparing now for future success in terms of Medicare requirements, payment security compliance, and overall patient satisfaction. Seeking increased efficiency and adherence to Medicare’s electronic health record (EHR) requirements, many health-care facilities are taking steps to transform their IT infrastructure. But while primary-care physicians, optometrists, and other health-care practitioners are deploying virtualization, streamlining their operations, and centralizing management, some O&P businesses continue to rely on “old-fashioned” paper files and outdated computer systems. Although the EHR mandate does not currently apply to O&P facilities, O&P office managers should consider following the lead of other health-care practices by converting to electronic processes and updating their IT infrastructure.
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O&P Almanac DECEMBER 2013